How to care for your Uniform

1A, 1B, 1C - Full Blues

Over time the correct assembling and wearing of the junior ratings square rig has endured a period of ‘Mission Creep' and is now incorrectly worn. To resolve this problem the following correct order of wear is to be adhered to.

White cap and tally

Caps are always to be worn square and never ‘flat-a-back’. Chin stays are to be well secured.

Cap ribbons are to be tied with a 2 inch/50 mm bow over the left ear and worn with the centre of the lettering over the nose (for T.S. LEANDER, the center is A).

Trop shirt

Wash after every use in hot or cold water. Stains can be removed by making a paste from Napisan and applying directly to the stained area, making sure to avoid the blue stripe around the neck of your shirt. DO NOT soak your trop shirt in Bleach. Iron your entire trop shirt inside out, but ignore where the creases will go. Whilst inside out, centre crease the sleeves so that when right-side-out the crease points inwards towards your arm. Iron the back inside out, with a centre crease so that when right-side-out it will point inwards towards your spine. Turn the trop shirt in the right way and iron the centre crease down the front – use a large handkerchief over the creased area so as not to transfer any mark from the iron onto the front of your shirt.Any item of clothing worn under your trop shirt must not show through or out at the top of the square neck.

SD Jacket

​Should be dry cleaned. They may be spot cleaned with a clean, damp cloth or washed in cold water if you are unable to have them dry cleaned. Hang on the washing line to dry – DO NOT put them in the clothes dryer as they will shrink! Iron them inside out, on the Wool setting of your iron. Jacket is to be ironed using your damp cloth – iron as much of it inside out as possible as this helps stop it going shiny. Sleeves are not to have a crease running down them.

Blue collar

silk

​The black silk is to be placed under the collar of the jacket, service dress and not under the Blue Jean Collar. There are two options for configuration and wearing of the black silk: Option One:The black silk maybe stitched together with the stitched end placed under the collar of the jacket, service dress. Having the black silk stitched forms a loop. Take the end of the black silk and place on to the jacket tape and tie with a bow. The end of the black silk will form a bight which is to be approximately 50mm in length and to sit inside the loop of the lanyard. Option Two:The black silk is to be placed under the collar of the jacket, service dress with the two ends hanging down. Take both ends of the black silk in hand and pull the left hand end down so that there is an overlap of approximately 2 to 3 inches or 50mm to 75 mm. Take the right hand end of the black silk and place under the left hand end and then fold the left hand end under; this forms the loop. Take the folded ends of the black silk and place on to the jacket tape and tie with a bow. The end of the black silk will form a bight which is to be approximately 2 inches/50mm in length and to sit inside the loop of the lanyard. Notes: The black silk is not to be tucked away inside the uniform jacket. If the silk is too short for your upper body the black silk will need to be lengthened.

Lanyard

The lanyard is rove round the neck and placed under the collar of the jacket, service dress (not just under the Blue Jean Collar) and along the top of the silk so that the ‘Turk’s Head’ rests just above the ‘V’ of the silk at approximately 2 ½ inches or 65mm. The lanyard end is then passed under the silk from right to left, brought right around its own standing part forming a loop and passing back over the right hand side of the lanyard and tucked into the left side of jacket pocket.

tape

​The jacket tape is to be of a length of exactly 23 inches/575mm. The jacket tape is to pass through both beckets of the uniform jacket. The bow of the jacket tape should be 2/3 inches or 50mm to 75mm across. The ends should be fishtailed and not more than 7 inches/175mm in length.

Bell bottom trousers

​Should be dry cleaned. They may be spot cleaned with a clean, damp cloth or washed in cold water if you are unable to have them dry cleaned. Hang on the washing line to dry – DO NOT put them in the clothes dryer as they will shrink! Iron them inside out, on the Wool setting of your iron. Trousers are not to have centre creases – they are to be ironed flat and inside out so that when right-side-out the outside seam points inwards. These items iron up best if they are a bit damp – so do not dry completely before ironing, spray lightly with water before ironing or use a damp cloth between the iron and the fabric. Trouser hems are to be sewn with black cotton only.

Shoes

If you were issued SD shoes from the Unit: DO NOT POLISH YOUR SHOES. Just wipe them with a clean cloth.

If you are using your own shoes this video may help.

3A, 3B - Half Blues​

What to wear: White cap with tally, trop shirt, name tag, bell-bottom trousers, belt, black socks, and SD shoes. Jumper (with rank slides and name tag) may be worn.​​

White cap and tally

Caps are always to be worn square and never ‘flat-a-back’. Chin stays are to be well secured.

Cap ribbons are to be tied with a 2 inch/50 mm bow over the left ear and worn with the centre of the lettering over the nose (for T.S. LEANDER, the center is A).

Trop shirt

Wash after every use in hot or cold water. Stains can be removed by making a paste from Napisan and applying directly to the stained area, making sure to avoid the blue stripe around the neck of your shirt. DO NOT soak your trop shirt in Bleach. Iron your entire trop shirt inside out, but ignore where the creases will go. Whilst inside out, centre crease the sleeves so that when right-side-out the crease points inwards towards your arm. Iron the back inside out, with a centre crease so that when right-side-out it will point inwards towards your spine. Turn the trop shirt in the right way and iron the centre crease down the front – use a large handkerchief over the creased area so as not to transfer any mark from the iron onto the front of your shirt.Any item of clothing worn under your trop shirt must not show through or out at the top of the square neck.

BELL BOTTOM TROUSERS

​Should be dry cleaned. They may be spot cleaned with a clean, damp cloth or washed in cold water if you are unable to have them dry cleaned. Hang on the washing line to dry – DO NOT put them in the clothes dryer as they will shrink! Iron them inside out, on the Wool setting of your iron. Trousers are not to have centre creases – they are to be ironed flat and inside out so that when right-side-out the outside seam points inwards. These items iron up best if they are a bit damp – so do not dry completely before ironing, spray lightly with water before ironing or use a damp cloth between the iron and the fabric. Trouser hems are to be sewn with black cotton only. ​

Shoes

If you were issued SD shoes from the Unit: DO NOT POLISH YOUR SHOES. Just wipe them with a clean cloth.

If you are using your own shoes this video may help.

This section is Under Construction

4A-4E - Half Blues​

Wash after every use in hot or cold water. Stains can be removed by making a paste from Napisan and applying directly to the stained area, making sure to avoid the blue stripe around the neck of your shirt. DO NOT soak your trop shirt in Bleach. Iron your entire trop shirt inside out, but ignore where the creases will go. Whilst inside out, centre crease the sleeves so that when right-side-out the crease points inwards towards your arm. Iron the back inside out, with a centre crease so that when right-side-out it will point inwards towards your spine. Turn the trop shirt in the right way and iron the centre crease down the front – use a large handkerchief over the creased area so as not to transfer any mark from the iron onto the front of your shirt.Any item of clothing worn under your trop shirt must not show through or out at the top of the square neck.

Tunic

​Should be dry cleaned. They may be spot cleaned with a clean, damp cloth or washed in cold water if you are unable to have them dry cleaned. Hang on the washing line to dry – DO NOT put them in the clothes dryer as they will shrink! Iron them inside out, on the Wool setting of your iron. Trousers are not to have centre creases – they are to be ironed flat and inside out so that when right-side-out the outside seam points inwards. These items iron up best if they are a bit damp – so do not dry completely before ironing, spray lightly with water before ironing or use a damp cloth between the iron and the fabric. Trouser hems are to be sewn with black cotton only. ​

Trousers

If you were issued SD shoes from the Unit: DO NOT POLISH YOUR SHOES. Just wipe them with a clean cloth.